Led by the found, I roam from fhade to fhade, Here his firft lays majestic Denham fung; There the last numbers flow'd from Cowley's tongue. O early loft! what tears the river shed, When the fad pomp along his banks was led! His drooping fwans on every note expire, No more the forefts ring, or groves rejoice; 270 275 280 Who now shall charm the shades, where Cowley ftrung 285 To crown the forests with immortal greens, Make Windfor hills in lofty numbers rise, To fing thofe honours you deserve to wear, VARIATIONS. 290 Here Ver. 275 What fighs, what murmurs, fill'd the vocal fhore! Ver. 290. her filver ftar.] All the lines that follow were not added to the poem till the year 1710. What immediately followed this, and made the conclusion, were thefe, My humble Mufe, in unambitious trains, Where Here noble Surrey felt the facred rage, 295 Oh would't thou fing what heroes Windfor bore, What kings first breath'd upon her winding fhore, 300 Or raise old warriors, whofe ador'd remains In weeping vaults her hallow'd earth contains! Stretch his long triumphs down through every age, The lilies blazing on the regal fhield: Then, from her roofs when Verrio's colours fall, And leave inanimate the naked wall, Still in thy fong should vanquish'd France appear, And bleed for ever under Britain's spear. 310 Let fofter ftrains ill-fated Henry mourn, And palms eternal flourish round his urn. VARIATIONS. Where I obfcurely pafs my careless days, Pleas'd in the filent fhade with empty praise, Enough for me that to the liftening fwains First in these fields I fung the fylvan strains. Ver. 307. Originally thus in the MS. Here When Brafs decays, when Trophies lie o'erthrown, And mouldering into duft drops the proud stone. Here o'er the Martyr-King the marble weeps, 315 320 Make facred Charles's tomb for ever known At length great Anna faid,-" Let Difcord cease!" Old father Thames advanc'd his reverend head. VARIATIONS, Ver. 321. Originally thus in the MS. Oh fact accurs'd! oh facrilegious brood, Since that dire morn what tears has Albion shed! Ver. 327. Thus in the MS. Till Anna rofe, and bade the Furies cease; Let there be peace-she said, and all was Peace, 325 330 His Between verfe 330 and 331, originally stood thefe lines: With fparkling flames heaven's glowing concave fhone, He His tresses drop'd with dews, and o'er the stream The figur'd streams in waves of filver roll'd, The blue, tranfparent Vandalis appears; The gulphy Lee his fedgy treffes rears ; 335 349 345 And fullen Mole, that hides his diving flood; VARIATION. He faw, and gently rose above the stream; 350 355 Though Though Tyber's ftreams immortal Rome behold, 360 365 No more my fons fhall dye with British blood Red Iber's fands, or Ifter's foaming flood: Safe on my shore each unmolested swain Shall tend the flocks, or reap the bearded grain; 370 The fhady empire fhall retain no trace Of war or blood, but in the fylvan chace; The trumpet fleep, while chearful horns are blown, 375 Project long fhadows o'er the crystal tide. Behold! Augufta's glittering fpires increafe, And Temples rise, the beauteous works of Peace. Their ample bow, a new Whitehall ascend ! 380 There VARIATION. Ver. 363. Originally thus in the MS. Let Venice boast her Towers amidft, the Main, Where the rough Adrian fwells and roars in vain; Here not a Town, but fpacious Realm shall have A fure foundation on the rolling wave. |